Muscat, June 18: Young Omanis aspiring to become school teachers must realise that there may not be many jobs available to them; they should, instead, try to specialise in other professions as dictated by the labour market, the country’s top policymakers said.
They pointed out that Omanisation of jobs in the education sector had reached high levels, significantly reducing the number of new teachers and other staff required in schools.
The total number of school teachers currently is 43,210, more than 85 per cent of whom are nationals. They teach at over 1,000 schools across the country with a student population of nearly 550,000.
The government aired its view at a high-profile seminar titled ‘Education Specialisations and Job Opportunities’ organised by the Higher Education Ministry in conjunction with the State Council, Majlis Ash’shura and a number of other state organisations. Chairman of the State Council Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri was the guest of honour. Several ministers and high-ranking officials were in attendance.
Mantheri, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference, stressed Oman’s drive to develop its human resources and find “productive” job opportunities for nationals. He noted that the government, various specialised councils, the society and parents shared the responsibility in guiding students to choose the right disciplines while pursuing higher education.
He said the Education Ministry was very clear in stating that localisation of jobs in the education sector had reached “a very high ratio,” and that it was high time for students to think of taking up specialisations that “serve them in their future careers.”
Legal Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Nasser Al Alawi, addressing the audience earlier, stressed that the Sultanate considered education as the “driving force” behind development and progress. He recalled His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s repeated assertion that the individual was the focus, tool and mean of development of the nation.
“The importance given to education stems from this… Right from the beginning, it has been one of the government’s fundamental issues,” Alawi said.
He called upon Omani students to choose disciplines that would find them jobs after they complete their courses. He observed that many students had chosen “to study educational disciplines unrequited by the labour market. This has resulted in the increase of unemployment in these disciplines in the Education Ministry’s schools,” he added.
Alawi said the seminar assumed significance in this context, adding that it was specifically meant to raise awareness in the society about the limited number of education jobs, and familiarise the public with efforts being made to highlight specialisations required by the labour market.”
Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed al Sarmi, Higher Education Ministry Under-secretary, drove home the point further when he noted that the large number of Omani students enrolling at higher educational institutions within and outside the country had resulted in a “surplus” of applicants for jobs in schools.
Higher Education Minister Dr Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah said the country’s authorities were keen to have a “real and clear picture” of students graduating from educational institutions and the future needs of the labour market. Dr Raheela bint Amer Al Riyami, member of the State Council and Chairperson of its Human Resources Committee, explained measures being taken to develop the education sector.
–Agencies